National Park College

What National Park College does

National Park College (NPC) is a public community college located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, operating under Arkansas state law and governed by a Board of Trustees. The institution serves approximately 7,000 students per year across college courses, workforce training, and adult education, making it the fourth-largest community college in the state. NPC's core product portfolio comprises 55 associate degrees and certificates, 70+ transfer degrees, on-campus bachelor's degree pathways delivered through partnerships with the University of Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas University, apprenticeship programs in electrical, HVAC, and plumbing trades, and concurrent enrollment programs with 15 area high schools. The college is differentiated by in-state tuition of approximately $4,950 annually (explicitly positioned at about half the cost of average universities), a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and over 90% of students receiving some form of financial aid. Supporting technology infrastructure includes the D2L Brightspace learning management system, a publicly accessible Makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, electronic workstations, and VR equipment, plus dedicated trade-training facilities including a new 16,000-square-foot welding facility under construction (completion scheduled August 2026) funded by a $6.6 million public-private package. The college generates revenue from tuition and fees, state and federal appropriations and grants, and charitable donations channeled through the National Park College Foundation Inc. (established 1980), with major recent gifts from the Windgate Foundation, Oaklawn Foundation, and Levi Community Foundation supporting capital projects, equipment, and student scholarships. NPC distributes its educational services through five primary channels: on-campus instruction, online learning via D2L Brightspace, concurrent enrollment at partner high schools, apprenticeship programs combining paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, and on-campus bachelor's degree programs through university partnerships, with student recruitment driven by the college's website, social media, community events, and the annual Job Fair hosting 60+ employers.

Name

National Park College

Legal name

National Park College

Website

https://np.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

National Park College is a public community college in Hot Springs, Arkansas, serving approximately 7,000 students annually through 55 associate degrees, bachelor's pathways via university partnerships, skilled-trades apprenticeships, and concurrent enrollment with 15 high schools at $4,950 annual tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF), Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Transfer degree pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Hot Springs National Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: NPC generates revenue through tuition and fees from enrolled students. In-state tuition and fees are approximately $4,950 annually for 15 credit hours per semester (2024-2025 rates).
2. Government Grants and Funding: State and federal funding including a $6 million HIRED grant from Arkansas Department of Commerce for workforce development and welding facility.
3. Foundation Donations: National Park College Foundation Inc. supports the college through charitable donations, scholarships, and capital improvement projects. Major donors include Windgate Foundation ($500K), Oaklawn Foundation ($200K), and Levi Community Foundation.
4. Financial Aid Administration: NPC administers over $8 million in grants and scholarships annually, with over 90% of students receiving some form of financial aid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

National Park College is a public community college in Hot Springs, Arkansas delivering affordable higher education through 55 associate degrees and certificates, 70+ transfer degrees, and on-campus bachelor's degree programs via university partnerships. The college also provides skilled trades apprenticeship programs (electrical, HVAC, plumbing), concurrent enrollment for high school students, adult education, career academy programs, and NJCAA Division II athletics. Support services include career services, advising, a publicly accessible Makerspace, and student life amenities.

Product overview

National Park College is a community college offering a comprehensive educational portfolio centered on associate degrees, certificates, and bachelor's degree pathways through university partnerships. The institution operates as a multi-product service provider with core offerings including 55 associate degrees and certificates, apprenticeship programs in electrical/HVAC/plumbing trades, the NPC Career Academy for high school concurrent enrollment, and bachelor's completion programs via partnerships with UAM and SAU. Supporting services include a Makerspace workshop with advanced fabrication tools, adult education, athletics (Nighthawk programs), and student support services. The college positions itself as an affordable alternative to four-year universities, serving approximately 7,000 students annually with an emphasis on workforce development and local degree completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate Degrees and Certificates
• Bachelor's Degree Partnerships
• Apprenticeship Programs
• Concurrent Enrollment
• NPC Career Academy
• Makerspace Publicly accessible workshop providing tools and equipment including 3D printers, 3D scanner, laser cutter, electronic workstations, woodworking equipment, Oculus Rift VR set, sewing machines, Cricut cutter, and videography/streaming equipment for student and community projects.
• Adult Education
• Nighthawk Athletics
• Student Support Services
• Outdoor Recreation Program
• New Welding Facility

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest graduating class in college history: 1,017 degrees and certificates to 635 graduates (2025-26)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• University of Arkansas at MonticellocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBachelor's degree partnership allowing students to complete four-year degrees on NPC campus. Programs include elementary education (12 graduates 2025-26), business (9 graduates), and nursing including RN-to-BSN (7 graduates in first cohort launched July 2025).
• Southern Arkansas UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBachelor's degree partnership offering biology with pre-health emphasis (3 graduates), pre-health professional biochemistry (1 graduate), and general computer science (3 graduates) on NPC campus.
• Malvern High SchoolmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcurrent enrollment partnership allowing high school students to earn college credit. Part of NPC's expansion to 15 high school partner institutions.
• Poyen High SchoolmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcurrent enrollment partnership allowing high school students to earn college credit. Part of NPC's expansion to 15 high school partner institutions.
• Visit Hot SpringsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Services internship partner that has hired NPC interns for the past two years, providing real-world experience aligned with workforce needs.
• Hot Springs Farmers MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing internship opportunities for NPC students as part of Career Services expansion of experiential learning options.
• Emergent ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization partnering with Career Services to create meaningful, hands-on internship experiences for NPC students.
• Hot Springs Women's Leadership AlliancemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Women's Leadership Summit, an inaugural event held March 6, 2026 that drew 185 women leaders. Collaboration includes award recognition at monthly luncheons.
• Garland County Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Hot Springs Women's Leadership Alliance to honor female pioneers from Garland County during Women's History Month celebrations.
• HOSA-Future Health ProfessionalsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led organization supported through U.S. Department of Education that prepares future healthcare professionals. NPC Career Academy Medical Professions students compete in state competitions.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• East Arkansas Community College: Public community college in Forrest City, Arkansas providing associate degrees, transfer pathways, and technical education. Direct state-level peer with similar rural operating context and overlapping student demographics.
• South Arkansas Community College: Public two-year college in El Dorado, Arkansas offering associate degrees, workforce training, and transfer pathways. Directly comparable in size, mission, and rural/small-city operating context to NPC.
• Black River Technical College: Arkansas public community college offering associate degrees, technical certificates, and workforce development programs. Comparable in scale and rural regional mission, providing a benchmark for similar small-market community college operations.
• University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville: Public two-year college in north-central Arkansas within the UA system. Offers associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce training — directly comparable institution competing in the same state ecosystem as NPC.
• College of the Ouachitas: Public community college in Malvern, Arkansas, situated in the same Ouachita region as NPC. Closest geographic peer with comparable size, mission, and student demographics — direct competition for regional workforce and transfer students.
• University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College: Major Arkansas public community college (now UA Little Rock - Pulaski Tech) with comprehensive associate degree, technical, and workforce offerings. Competes for the same statewide student pool and shares the community college + bachelor's-partnership model.
• Arkansas State University - Newport: Public community college in northeast Arkansas offering associate degrees, technical certificates, and concurrent enrollment. Comparable scale, mission, and student demographic profile — direct competitor for state-level community college rankings and funding.
• Southeast Arkansas College: Public community college in Pine Bluff, Arkansas delivering associate degrees, career and technical education, and adult education. Direct peer in mission and student demographic — competes for the same state appropriations pool.
• Arkansas State University Three Rivers: Public community college in Malvern, Arkansas (recently merged with ASU-Newport) offering associate degrees, technical programs, and workforce training. Comparable scale, mission, and student profile to NPC — competes for the same state funding and student pool.
• NorthWest Arkansas Community College: Largest community college in Arkansas serving the northwest region. Directly comparable as a public two-year institution offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, workforce training, and similar concurrent enrollment programs to overlapping state student pools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NationalParkC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NationalParkCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalparkcollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalparkcollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-park-college

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Park College